Missing Baby Girl…
Many have tried to fill in the gap left in R&B in the eight years since Aaliyah’s passing (and you know the ones we’re referring to), but none have been able to really match the angelic-voiced singer’s always intriguing display of mysterious tomboy sex appeal and understated vocal grace or her excellent ability in complimenting Timbaland’s manic beats rather than being swallowed up and made irrelevant by them.
Listening to some of her and Timbaland’s best collaborations now-the hip hop tip-toe “Are You That Somebody?”, the serpentine seducer “We Need A Resolution”, “More Than A Woman”’s superhero synth funk, “Try Again”’s Matrix-esque digi-soul-you can still grasp onto brand new things to adore amongst their complex rhythm patterns, smooved out vocal melodies and compelling (and shamefully oft-overlooked) lyrical sketches, bringing one once again to wonder how many more different ways she would have blown our minds musically by now had she not moved on.
That question will never be answered, but such a frustration won’t ever stop us from always celebrating the greatness she produced the short time she was with us.
Below, check out three recent tributes to the much-missed “Baby Girl” that planted major smiles on our faces: sick electro-soul covers of “4 Page Letter” (by Cali producer AFTA-1 and vocalist Nikko Gray) and “Rock The Boat” (by UK songstress/ Basement Jaxx collaborator Vula) from urban culture webzine SoulCulture’s fantastic new covers EP, Aaliyah Revisited (grab it FOR FREE here); And DJ Benzi and Skratch Bastid’s “dope X infinity” blend of “Rock The Boat” and DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s deathless, triple-degree weather classic “Summertime”.
DL: AFTA-1 featuring Nikko Gray “4 Page Letter” (Aaliyah Cover)” (alt)
DL: Vula “Rock The Boat (Aaliyah Cover)” (alt)
DL: “Rock The Boat (Benzi & Skratch Bastid’s ‘Summertime’ Remix)” (alt)
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